Swindon Andy

I don't know much about the GS300, but I know the Soarer with the same engine can do easily double the mileage. Provided it's been regularly serviced. That's your main concern along with how young or tired the car seems. Mileage reading on cars of this age is often not dependable unless you see a stack of MOTs to back it up. Dealers will almost always have some reserve in their list price so offer low and haggle. There's a lot of general advice on the web about buying cars, well worth a good read. Have you checked your insurance premium is manageable? A 3L car on a new driving licence will cost a bit.

That would be a real good price for that work over here. Glad you got it sorted. Remember to go easy on the brakes for 100-200 miles, they'll bed in nicer.

Glad it's sorted. What was the extra £208 for?

I updated to 2009 map disc on my GS S3 - it now allows destination entry while rolling.

Some tyre shops will reskim the discs. They won't do it if it takes them under the minimum width though

A nice new set of tyres all balanced will make the best out of a car that has other stuff worn, such as bushes, trailing arms etc. You think it was the tyres, but that can mask the underlying reasons. If you keep needing rebalancing, look to find/replace the worn stuff in due course.

With those symptoms it does sound like the caliper plus some. The heat can damge bearings, bushes etc if you're unlucky. It sounds dangerous, you should stop driving it and get it sorted IMHO.

On 2 cars I had recharged by a tyre shop, both had trouble the next year. One compressor seized, and the other is out of gas again. Now I am far from sure either wouldn't have happened anyway, but from now on I will only use main dealer or specialist aircon company for any work and ancourage all to leave the cheap regassers alone.

Thanks, yes I'm already faded 60% towards the rear, it is a little cleaner bass sound, but still well off being under proper control. Such a shame, as the mid-high is so clean if a little shouty. I'm going to talk to a couple of high end ICE outfits, see what they suggest.

I now know there's nothing wrong with my ML system, compared with another. You're right about the bass. There isn't enough weight and control - that's what's wrong. I'm pretty sure there are some frequency dips as well. I think I'll investigate a decent bass amp to take a low pass feed and drive the sub(s) directly. The volume is plenty, just needs the grip of a bigger amp. Anyone else worked along these lines?

Clever idea. Not so sure about corrosion building unseen under the 'gators though.

Gold, a pale gold. Class.

Thanks for the input. I've an ear for proper HiFi even though my high frequency hearing is down a bit. I would put it down to my ears if it sounded dull, but quite the reverse. You're right of course, I need to compare with others first. The phone base has an aerial built in as well, that's one reason I want to get the cradle. Michelins - any particular type? Pirelli P Zero Rosso non-directional is one I've got my eye on for next time. Not a wide choice, needing 97Y Li.

Tyres - The Avons fitted have a drone, really noticeable as the car itself is so quiet. The dealer says any tyre with a vee tread pattern tends to do this. So who has the quietest tyres - what are they?

Hi, I've had a 2005 (2006 model) GS430 for about a month now, and 3000 miles racked up already - mainly a Scotland holiday. I miss my previous Soarers but the GS is a great car. I've a few questions I hope you will help me with, I have trawled back on here a but but not found anything much on these: Mark Levinson sound system - yes it has the ML amp, and ML written on the head unit - but I really don't like the sound of it. Sure, it's very clear and can go loud, but I find the sound harsh and boomy at higher levels and there is little you can do to tame it. The timbre is wrong, for me anyway. Also there seems to be some of the bass frequencies lacking although there is deep boomy bass. Am I alone on this, or has anyone made improvements - what can be done? Is it the amp or speakers? Maybe an equaliser is all I need? DAB - can the DAB unit for late models be incorporated? If not, what have you guys done - I would rather integrate it in preference to a Pure highway or similar. Ipod/stick input - again recommendations here would be great. Has anyone experience of the 'drive and view' conversion on a GS? Are there alternatives to this as I've heard some stories....? Phone cradle - I have a cradle base unit in the arm rest and need to get a cradle to fit my phone. The Lexus garage say it's Lexus fit, but it's the spitting image of a Bury base. Did Bury supply Lexus I wonder, and is a phone cradle from Bury going to work on the Lexus system? Any idea what a Lexus cradle will cost? (I forgot to ask the garage)